John Beilein Appreciation Thread Part Two

John Beilein has gotten Michigan to its 4th Sweet 16 in 6 years. I've done some sleep deprived and slightly intoxicated research, and the number of programs who have officially gotten to 4 or more Sweet 16's in the last 6 years:

North Carolina, Kansas, Duke, Kentucky, Gonzaga, Arizona, Wisconsin, and tomorrow Michigan State will have the opportunity to match it.

No matter how far Michigan ends up going in this tournament, I would like to appreciate how John Beilein has consistently elevated this program into the upper echelon of college basketball.

But even at risk of having all the UM old school slappies nail me to the wall, I do not think it’s a street he to say that Belein May just be the best UM basketball coach in the history of the school. Fisher was also incredible, but Belein is doing this without 5 star talent and also has a very clear conscience.

Frieder brought the program back from the dead and won big in the regular season, but he was not the postseason coach Beilein is. Fisher was comparable in the postseason but Beilein is the total package (and runs a cleaner program, too).

He has the most wins, most tournament wins (due to vacating fab 5), and he took us from a nearly 20 year period of sleep walking to a nationally elite program. Fisher and frieder did not do that. They did run the program that received one of the most severe NCAA punishments of all time for cheating. So, is it really that tough to call him the greatest given not just what he has accomplished, but also how he has accomplished it?

What's also nice is in the post-game show they talked about how in a poll of his peers he was voted the cleanest coach and how refreshing that was giving the ongoing FBI investigation in to illegal recruiting practices. All Hail Beilein

This has been 40 years in the making for him. He finally settled at a high major program with great resources and reputation. He has been very successful at every stop. Now, he is reaching the pinnacle of his career at the right time. His last five years or so are upon us, and they see going to be special! Let’s also mention his post game celebrations. Name a coach with a better penchant for the postgame celebration. He keeps one upping himself - the full poncho and goggles was next level last night! He is everything you could ever want in a coach. Anyone here who wanted him fired at any point should be ashamed of themselves; especially considering his track record (little faith variety) and UM b-ball in the 20 years before him (ignoramous variety). It is a great opportunity again for the rational Beilein apologists to pat ourselves on the back. Go blue!

His offense is so hard to prep for that it’s a huge advantage in March, which is what I’ve always loved. The fact that now they also play elite D, hopefully we’re in for a multi-year run even better than what he’s already giving us.

It’s going to be a sad day whenever he decides to put the whistle down. And yes, at this point I think he has earned the right to decide when that takes place. He is an elite coach, if not the best coach in the country.

Water fights, being and actor not a reactor, teaching, being a father figure to kids away from home. He might be one of those that coaches into his 70's and since he's shown adaptability I hope it's with us the entire time

Villanova and Kansas. Other than that, nobody. Xavier and Gonzaga are both close, and honestly, I think Virginia is too. Yea, they lost to UMBC in the biggest upset in College Basketball history, but I don't think that totally negates going 31-3 in the ACC, winning both the regular season and conference tournament, and going a combined 3-0 against Duke and North Carolina. Shit just happens sometimes.